Ames Roller Derby Association is more than just derby

Wednesday

The sound of skates picking into the wood floor and players yelling echoed through Ogden’s Spinning Wheels roller skating rink.

A plethora of strong women determinedly pushed their way around each other to practice a sport most have only seen in movies.

Their passion for roller derby and love for each other seeped through their smiles and high fives that smacked together throughout the rink.

The moment was the sight experienced by a small audience at the Skunk River Riot’s practice.

The Ames Roller Derby Association (ARDA) is comprised of different ages, body shapes and walks of life. They’ve united throughout the summer to prepare for their upcoming competitions this year.

ARDA’s roller derby team, Skunk River Riot, is an all-women’s team on a mission to bring an exciting sport to the Ames community. ARDA sees roller derby as more than just a sport, but also a way for people to meet and learn more about themselves.

On its official website, the “join” page features what a person requires and benefits from as a player on the team. Building self-confidence is one of the bold statements with a star by it at the top of the page.

For Skunk River Riot captain Angie Wilson, self-confidence is about her acquired inner-strength.

“We skated all around the local regions, and we were able to network pretty far, which gave me more connections, which made me feel stronger,” Wilson said.

Even player Janine Tellinghuisen believes that derby gave her a new confidence that influenced the way she saw herself.

“It’s really helped me be comfortable as my body has changed. I’ve gotten older and (my body) doesn’t work like it used to, but derby allows me to use it in a different way,” Tellinghuisen said.

Not only are the team’s players learning more about their inner-strength, many of them still feel as strong as when they were competing in other sports before they joined derby.

Tellinghuisen practiced martial arts, specifically tae kwon do, most of her life and believes that roller derby allows her to stay physically strong like she did before she was introduced to the sport.

Even Wilson said she was able to finally compete in a contact sport, which she never had the opportunity to enjoy as an athlete.

Overall, many of the players believe roller derby has created an overall strength in their life. They are confident anyone who joins derby can benefit from this as well.

If someone decides to join ARDA’s Skunk River Riot, they will gain a circle of accepting, supportive and lifelong friends, Tellinghuisen said.

“I liked the camaraderie the most,” she said. “Strong women, you know, we all love each other. I guess I love that all body types are accepted, and they are all useful in derby.”

According to the ARDA website, there are numerous ways to become a part of the team. Wilson noted various ways anyone can get involved with Skunk River Riot that don’t involve wearing skates.

“We need supporters, we need sponsors, we need volunteers,” Wilson said. “We need non-skating officials and referees at our bouts, so if you like to skate and don’t like to get hit, you can be a referee. If you want to be a part of the community and be a part of the sport you can be a volunteer at the events or at our bouts and our fundraisers.”

Whether locals want to participate with skates or not, any support towards the team is appreciated according to Wilson. In the long run, they will benefit from a new community that all about strength, friendship and confidence.